Explore Sam’s complex relationship with Long Island. How does the narrative setting influence her Journeys of Self-Discovery and Personal Growth? How does she respond to this setting as a child versus as an adult?

Compare and contrast Jack and Wyatt as characters. In what ways are they foils of each other? What do they each bring out in Sam? In the narrative present, why does Sam initially glorify her relationship with Jack and dismiss her connection with Wyatt?

Analyze the ways in which the narrative structure supports the novel’s thematic interest in The Challenges of Navigating Past and Present Relationships. Craft an argument that explains why the narrative toggles between the past and present, between the first- and third-person points of view, and between Sam’s and Wyatt’s storylines. What is the effect?